Throttle brake control mechanism



ug- 3, 1943. s. R. HEMPHILL. 2,325,771

THROTTLE BRAKE CONTROL MECHANTSM 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR f STANLfY/HHEMPH/LL giggd Deo. 1e, 1940 ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 s. R. Hl-:MPHILL THROTTLE BRAKE QONTROL MECHANISM Filed Deo. 16, 194D Aug. 3, 1943.

ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1.943.

s. R. HEMPHILI.` v

THROTTLE BRAKE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Dec. 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR nrufy HEMPH/LL ATTORNEY brahng devices.`

l Patented Aug. V3, -19.43

.l'l-IBOTTLE CONTROL HECHANISM Stanley B. Hemphill, Seattle, Wash. I Application December 16, 1940, Serial No. 870,380

This invention relates toimprovements in vehicle control systems and has reference more particularly to equipment lor use on present-day types of automotive vehicles for the control of the More specifically stated, the present invention resides in the provision of a brakecontrol system. ormechanism, for motor vehicles, which is adapted to be controlled through the mediacy of the usual foot throttle, or accelerator pedal by 4 which the vengine's speed is controlled.'

Explanatory to the present invention, it `will be here stated that practically all present-day motor vehicles are equipped with a standardized control system, including braking devices designed to be actuated through the mediacy ofl i, what is known as the service brake pedal, afoot throttle, or accelerator pedal for control of the engine speed, and a clutch pedal ladapted to be depressed to disengagethe clutch for engine idling or for the shifting oi' gears.v 'I'he service brake pedal and the toot throttle are located adjacent each other, but it is required that the opthe provision of a brake control system of the above described character wherein the vehicle clutch will be automatically released for the shifting of gears, through the action of the loot throttle alone, thus to make it possible to shift Beurs without the usual depression, by the opererator of the vehicle remove his foot-from the foot throttle and place it on the brake pedal for y `actuation of the brakes, or vice versa.

Without going into a lengthy discussion of the advantages or disadvantages of engine and `brake noted when it is required that a vehicle be* stopped momentarily on a steep up grade.

In view of the `above mentioned andother disengine control systems of motor vehicles, it has been the principal object of this invention to pro-, -vide a novel combination of parts for the power brak'ing of the vehicle, and for a control of these A tion to provide such an arrangement of Darts for the above stated object, that theluse ofthe foot throttle for braking or brake control, in no way e interferes with its normal use for engine speed control.

son eoetserebieet er the invention resides m advantagegto be found in present-day brake and ator. of the clutch release pedal. y A still further object of the invention is to provide abrake control system of the character heretofore stated, that may be applied to presentday automotive vehicles in conjunction with the usual vehicle control devices, without requiring any material-modincation thereof, and--providing that the vehicle may still be controlled in the usual manner if it should be so desired.

- Still further objects are to bel found in the details ofconstruction-of-parts, in their combination and mode of opration', as willI hereinafter befulLv' described. j

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. whereini Fig. 1 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the arrangement of parts embodying the pre's'ent invention.

Fir. s is e. side view or therese-throttle and its connection with a bell crank lever for carburetor andV braking control; the throttle pedal being shown in dotted lines at various positions present braking system where a hydraulic braking medium is employed.

Fig. 5 is a detalllillustrating a type of air i control valve adapted for use in the present sys- -tem when braking is effected through the mediacy of compressed air.

Fig. 6 is aplan, illustrating an adaptation of a modiication of the present system to apedal` controlled braking system.

Fig. 7 is a section on line "l-'1 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating` the braking operation by this mechanism. y Broadly stated, .the present mechanism, or system. comprises power devices operativelyconnected for actuating the brakes of the vehicle,

-angle to arm 24a, connected pivotally as at 21, with `a link 28 that is extended to the c arburetor lever arm 4. This link has a lost and means operable in conjunction with the foot throttle for effecting the energization or de-energiza'tion of the said power devices; the throttle being movable through an initial arc of travel for braking and clutch control, and through an additional arc of travel for engine control.

Referring more in .detail to the drawings- In Fig. 1, i designates what may be any of the present-day types of carburetors for supplying carbureted fuel mixture to the cylinders of an engine whereby the vehicle, which is equipped with the present control system, may be driven. This carburetor is equipped with the usual throttle valve 2 mounted by a rotatable shaft 3 to which an actuating arm, or lever is fixed.

i The carburetor connects with a manifold designated at 5, which distributes the carbureted fuel to the engine cylinders, and it is understood that through this manifold, the suction or partial vacuum that is created by operation of the pistons in the engine cylinders, is transmitted to `the outlet side of the carburetor.

Itwill here be mentioned that different types or kinds of power driven vehicles may be equipped with diierent types and kinds of engines or prime movers, and since it is not my intention that the present control system be conned to vehicles wherein the fuel Asupply or source of power is under the control of a carburetor, it is apparent that the lever arm d may be representative of thev control lever of any kind or source of power. For example, it mightybe a control for.

the administration of electric power, steam power, or a hydraulic power medium, any or all of which could be applied in varying degree in accordance with movement or' the lever arm.

The brake drums for a pair of wheels of the vehicle are designated at 8 and/ital and the brake shoes that are fitted thereto and which cooperate therewith for the braking operations, are designated at 9-9; each pair of brake shoes being functionally actuated by a hydraulic jack it operatively connected therewith in the usual manner. In Figs. l, 6 T, have .shown the jack l@ as being mounted between the movable, or expandable ends of the paired brake shoes, and equipped, in its opposite ends, with pistons i i-i H conning a hydraulic medium between them. The hydraulic jacks for the two brakes are connected, respectively by means of pipe lines i2 and i2', with a tting or header i3, which, in turn, has a pipe connection it with a master cylinder i5, later to be described in detail, through which braking pressure is applied equally to the several brake equipped wheels.

The foot throttle for engine and braking con-f trol, Vis designated at 2U, and it comprises a pedal a lever arm lll having operative connection as. .designated by link i8 with the clutch release that is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a vbracket murat may be fixed to me venida floor.

A link, or rod, 22 is pivotallyy connected at one end with the upper end portion of the throttle pedal and, at its other end, has pivotal connection, as at 23, with the arm, 24a, of a bell crank 2d.

The bell crank 24- is -pivotally mounted by a stud or bolt 25 on a bracket 264 th fixed on the vehicle frame or dash and it has an arm 24h extending approximate fat its end,

motion connection with arm 4, as noted in Fig. l, by reason of'its being provided with a longitudinal slot 29 through which a pin 30,. which is fixedv in the lever arm fil extends to provide for actuation of the arm by the link.

As noted in Fig. l, the throttle valve 3 of the carburetor is` urged toward closed position at' all times by the pull of a coiled spring 32 that is attached to the outer end of arm d and to a stud or anchor 33 that may be on the vehicle engine or on any other object that is stationary relative to the carburetor. Also, there is a coiled spring 35 attached, at one end, to the bracket 26 and at its other end to the arm Zlla of bell crank 2t.

The disposition of the spring 35 and its direction of pull relative to the bell crank is such'that at the end of a certain initial downward movement of -they foot throttle, it will pass over the dead center line of the pivot stud 25 and exert a pull on the bell crank that will counteract the pull of string 32, as will later be more fully described.

This initial movement of the foot throttle is that indicated by the arc a in Fig. 2, and it is just sucient that 4the lower end of slot 29 in link 23 will be engagedwith the stud 3l! and any farther movement of link 28 will cause the-valve 3 to be moved toward open position. The service brake pedal for the vehicle is designated at llt, and it is fixed to a rotatably mounted` shaft @i to which a downwardly depending lever arm t2 is xed. A link i3 operatively connects the lower end of lever arm d2 with a control lever arm tt on the master braking cylinder l5.

TheK clutch release pedal` designatedat d5, is mounted on a rotatable shaft d6, equipped with collar i9 of the vehicle power system. The power devices for the mechanical operation of the brake and clutch release mechanism comprises, for the brakes, a` booster cylinder 55 and for the clutch release, a boostercylinder' 56. Each cylinder is of the conventional type, `closed at its ends and is centrally divided .between its eands by a exible diaphragm 5l. The diaphragm or' cylinder'55 is operatively connected to a rod 58 whichv extends from the cylinder and at its outer end operatively connects, as yat 59, with the master cylinder control lever M.

Likewise, the diaphragm in booster cylinder' 56 is connected-with a rod 60 which extends from the cylinder and is operatively connected to a lever arm Si on the clutch release shaft @6.

A vacuum pipe 65 connects at one end through a special brake control valve 66, and back check valve Bl with the vacuum side of carburetor i, and at its other end, has branch pipes 58 and 69 leading therefrom respectively to the booster cylinders, 55 and 5G. The arrangement is such that when valve $6 is open, vacuum is communicated through the pipe connections to the booster cylinders 55 and, and they are energized; the energlzation efficylinder 56; ting the release of the vehicle clutch and th ylinder 55 likewise effecting an application of the braking pressure to an extent as" determined by the degree of o'pening of valve 56.

The valve 66 is shown in cross section in Fig. 3. It comprises a valve housing equipped with a central chamber 66a with a lateral opening 66D l* which connects through pipe 65, back check valve 6l and a pipe 1U, with the suction side of the This device comprises an air valve havingan operating lever |0| pivoted at |02. One end of the lever is operatively connected, as at |03, with tached. This cable extends over a guide roller 16 to the bell crank lever 24 where it is attached to the lever arm 2lb in such manner that,

through that movement of the bell crank eilected i l byvmovement of the throttle pedal 20, the posi-- tion of the valve rod may be controlled,

The valve chamber 06a has an opening 18' in one side wall, sur-rounding the rod13 and providing communication with chamber 1|, and the chamber 1| has an opening 19 to communicate with atmosphere through ports 18a and 1.9b. The

rod 13 is equipped with valve disks 80 and 8|, adapted, at diierent positions of the rod, to close the openings 10 and 19, respectively anda coiled crank u to their fuii une positions in Fig. 1, thus..

through the pull cord 15, shifting the valve rod 13 outwardly, and openingvalve 80 and closing phere and opening the suction connection between thepipe 6 5 and manifold, so that both booster cylinders will be energized.

'Ihe movement'of valve rod AI3 is rather limited; thus I find it desirable to attach cord 15 valve 8|, thus to close the connection to. atmosto lever 2lb through the mediacy of a yieldable .coiled spring 15x, as noted in Fig. V2; this spring will yield without compression of spring 83A until the foot throttle 20 starts to swingup through `the braking arc, then its tension overcomes that of spring 83 and effects the opening of the valve 80. l

In the pipe connection 60 leading to the booster cylinder 56, is a back check ball valve 90, as seen best in Fig. 3, in which a ball valve 90 is adapted to close against a seat surrounding a hole 92, thus to check flow of air through port 92 to the booster cylinder. However, to permit of a slow, or controlled flow oi air-to the booster, when valve v66 is opened t-o atmosphere, there is a small by-pass port 04 in the valve aswill be noted by reference to Fig. 3. Thus, when the booster is de-energized,

. it lets the clutch back "easily to avoidA sudden jerk or possible damage.

The master cylinder I5 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 4, wherein it isvshown as including a hythus .applying the brakes 'to full extent.

inwardly by a lever 96 ilxed on shaft 91 to which the lever is secured. A coiled 'spring 00 in the cylinder engages the piston to moveit i outwardly' past a` port 99 in the cylinder wall, for an inflow of oil to the cylinder from housing I5. When the booster cylinder is energized, the lever arm 4 1 is actuated to rotate shaft o1 and-thus to effect an application of the vehicle the booster cylinder rod 50. The other endof the lever engages a valve stem `|04that may be de pressed to open the. valve to allow air under pressure to flow from a source of supply through pipe |05 to the valve and from the valve through pipe |08 to the brake actuating cylinders. i.

Assuming the device to be so constructed, its mode of operation is'as follows:

.- yConsidering the vehicle engine to be idling, and

the foot throttle 20 to be in its full line position of Fig. 1, it will be understood that a partial vacuum will be created in the manifold '5 by reason of the engine operation, and this will be trans mitted through pipe 10, back check valve 61 to one side of valve 80. i

With the foot throttle in this position, it will be understood that the valve will be opened. that is, ior transmittal of the suction or vacuum through pipe BI, and branch pipes 08 and 69, to the booster cylinders 55 and 50, to energize them to hold the brakes set and hold the clutch released. i

With the clutch out, the operator first sets the transmission gears as desired, then pushes down on the foot throttle, carrylng it through' are a and into arc b. This movement ofthe foot throttle moves the bell 'crank 24, .and allows the valve 68 to assume its closed position, as shown in Fig. 3. thus to cut oi the eilect of suction. and to open the pipe 05 to atmosphere; this being communicated to both booster cylinders so that they become de-energized, allowing the brakes to be released and the clutch to be engaged. .The engine speed is then governed by the degree to which the pedal 20 is depressed.

" Whenit is desired to stop, foot pressure is removed from. the pedal 20 and it is brought back throttle up to arc a is by reason. of the pull oi'.

the spring 32 on lever arm l. As the foot pedal moves into arc a, the spring 35 takes enect. The

pull cord then begins to pull valve 66 open. and, vthe effect of ,vacuum or suction in manifold 5 is transmitted to the booster cylinders for braking and clutch release. The degree of braking forces is determined by the extent of travel of lpedal 20 up through arc a, and is easily controlled by the operator.l When he desires to stop completely, pressure is removed from the pedal, and the spring moves the valve 66 to full open position, 'I'he brakes will be held set as long as the engine is in operation, and as long thereafter as vacuum is retained in the booster cylinders.

In Figs. 6, I and 8, I have illustrated an'adaptation of the present throttle brake control means 4to a vehicle having a separate brake control pedal,

suchas might be employed where air brakes ,are in use; it being understood that in some vehicles, it is practical and has been found desirable to provide the. present throttle control for` direct action through the brake rod. In these views, the i brake pedal is designated at 00a: and the throttle pedal at 20x; each being pivotally supported for the usual foot control, asis pedal 20.` Back oi these pedals, a cross bar |06 is pivotally mounted on a central pivot bolt l|||1 for oscillating movement.' The iootpedal 40a: operatively connects,

through a |08. with a bell crank |09 which..

4 asesinar.

.arm 64. This rod l l has a vertical pivot stud H2 whereby it is operatively connected to one end of the cross bar |06. Likewise, the throttle pedal 20.1: is connected by Aa link H3 with a; .bell crank l i4 which, in turn, connects to a horizontal throttle control rod H5 that extends slidably through an eyelet formed by a U-bolt l lt that is fixed in the other end of the cross rod it. On the rod H5 is a fixed stop lll that is adapted to engage the eyelet when the throttle pedal 20:1: moves upwardly into the arc a, as seen in Fig. 7, thus to oscillate the cross bar, as illustrated in Fig. 8, to effect an applicatlonbf the brakes. Normally there is free action ofgthethrottle and brake without interference bygrthe stop, and the action of the bar itt by the brake pedal hasno effect on the throttle pedal. l

Inthis arrangement of parts, the braking may be done either through the manipulation of the brake pedalflx in the normal manner, or may be done automatically by permitting the foot pedal to move upwardly through arc a; it being understood that the pedal 2te in this instance operates as' does the pedal 20 of Fig. l, to actuate the throttle control rod l l5.

One of the main features of the present comi i of much driving strain by reason of the: lessened pressure on the foot throttle.

Another feature of the invention is the quick release of the clutch which is eiected and the relatively" slow setting of the clutch; this being accomplished through the special form of `back check valve which is interposed in the vacuum or Asuction connection ahead of the booster cylinder 5t.

While l'. have illustrated the present system as including means for clutch release or clutch control, it is not intended that it be conned to combinations including the clutch, since in some vehicles, for' example, those employing the nuid drive, the clutch may be eliminated.

The main feature of the invention is to be found in the means for brake control of motor vehicles, whether the' brakes be on the 'wheel or elsewhere, and whether the power be furnished by internal combustion engine or otherwise, and whether braking be effected by vacuum suction, air pressure or hydraulic medium, so long as the control thereof is effected by means substantially as shown. 0 A

In the claims which follow, the term "valve throttle lever'"f,will be considered to identify any element corresponding to the valve lever 4, whether it be applied to the control valve of the; carburetor of an internal combustion engine, or

' whether 'it be any other movable element for governing the speed of operation of the prime mover of the vehicle. y y

The term engine will be understood to designate any prime mover for a vehicle that is controlled by such a valve throttle lever.

The term braking system or braking devices will be understood to designate any type of vehicle brake, whether of the hydraulic type shown, or mechanically operated elements which `might be applied to the vehicle wheels or to the power transmission shaft.

The term foot throttle ywill designate any element corresponding to the foot pedal 2t, whether it be operated by the foot or otherwise.

The braking arc" will be understood to be that movement of the foot throttle f or controlling the application of the brakes, as from full on to on position, and the driving arc of the foot throttle will be understood to be that interval of travel which eiects the movement of the throttle' valve lever for the control of the engines speed after the brakes have been released.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

- crank, an operating connection between the bell crank and valve including a yieldable member, a link connecting the other arm of the bell crank and throttle valve lever, and including a lost motion connection and a spring connected with the bell crank to yieldingly urge the foot pedal to its fully lifted position; said pedal being adapted to be depressed through an initial interval of travel for actuation of the pipe valve progressively from a full open to closed position without actuation of the throttle lever due to said lost motion connection, and adapted to be actuated through an additional interval due to said yieldable member or functional actuation of the throttle control lever while the brake control valve remains closed.

2. In a vehicle control system of the character described,'a throttle valve control lever, a valvev closing spring acting on the lever with increased I tension as the valve is opened, a foot throttle pedal having means operatively connecting it with the lever for adjustment of the valve, and a spring associated with the said means for counteracting increased tension on the valve closing spring as the valve is moved to open positions.

3. In a vehicle control system, a carburetor having a throttle valve lever, a spring connected to the lever to draw the Valve to closed'position and in which tension increases in accordance with the opening of the throttle valve, a foot pedal, a pivotally vmounted bell crank lever, a link operatively connecting one arm of the bell vcrank lever with the pedal, a link operatively l 'STANLEY R. -HEIVIPI-IILL. 

